Aeroplane



AEROPLANE Filed June l2, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 'l ATTORNEY Mmm D' F. MCELHANEY M-BROPLANEv Filed June l2, 1926 4 SheetS-Sheet 2 AEROPLANE Filed June l2, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Mamh 8 w27" MCELHANY AEROPLANE 4. Sheets-Sheet Filed. June l2, 1926 ATTORNEY FRANK TJECELHNEY, 0F MORGANTOWN, NEST VIRGNIA.

Annemans.

Application led June 12 rl`his invention relates to aeroplanes, and contemplates certain improvements in the construction disclosed in Patent Fo. 1,576,"- tlli. issued to me on lilarch 1926.

ln carrying out the present invention l ronteinplate thc provision ot ioot actuated ineans for controlling the adjustment of the vertical rudder and the landing wheel ot the machine which is also utilized for guiding the latter when moving over the ground.

Another important object ot the invention resides in the provision oi means for locking the said landing wheel against rotation, and constructing said wheel to permit ofits use in the capacity voiladrap; or. sind, without interfering' with the turning or the wheel for the purpose ot steering the machine when landing.

Another object of the invention resides 1n the provision ot means ior adjusting the said wheel vertically with relation to the machine, and incorporating;1 in such structure Shock absorbing elei'nentswhich allows the wheel to be used as adragr'or skid.

A further object ot 'the invention resides in arrangingA a guard in advance oi the said wheel to protect the latter from coming in Contact with stationary objects which would otherwise damage the wheel.

The nature and advantages ot the invention will be better understood when the following detail description is read in connection with the accon'ipanying drawings, the invention residin in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

ln the drawings forming part of this application like numerals of reference indicate similar partsin the several views and where in:

Figure 1 is a side elevation ot themachine.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary lon {ritudinal sectional view showing the means tor raising' and lowering the landing wheel and the locking` means therefor, together with the relative position of the guard for said wheel.

Figure 3 is a 'sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2 looking; in the direction ot the arrows.

` .Figure 4 is a detail view of the Control means for the horizontal rudder.

Figure 5 is a. similar view ot' the control for the means for raising and lowering the landing wheel shown in Figure 2.

, 1926. Serial No. 115,575.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on line 6--6 of Figure EZ. Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan View.

Figure Sig a :iront view of landing wheel and mounting therefor.

Figuref) is a view showing the arrangement or guide pulleys for the controlling elements.

Figure 10 is a similar view of the guide ldd pulleys for the controlling,- elements for each drum.

Figure l1 is a section on line 11-11 of Figure 3. y

Referring to the drawings in detail 1G and 11 indicate respectively the upper and 70 lower planes of the machine which are con nected together by uprights 12. The propeller 13 is arranged and operated in the ordinary well known manner. The front ground wheels are indicated at 11i and sup- 75 ported in any suitable manner, while the j rear ground or landing wheel is `relatively small and indicated at 15. The vertical rudder is indicated at 16 and the horizontal rudder at 17, while projecting rearwardly 30 from the support for the rear wheel 15 is an additional small rudder 18.

The vertical rudder is pivoted adjacent its lower end at 19 while supported adjacent-the upper end thereof is a transverse bar 2O which has connected to the opposite ends thereof forwardly projecting rods 2l. The corresponding forward extremities of these rods are connected to a cross bar Q2 keyed or otherwise .suitably secured to a 9G stein 223. A portion oi:l this stem is angular in cross section to slide in a bore 24 ofsiuiilar contour. this bore being provided in a shaft This shaft is also mounted for sliding` moren'ient tl'irough a suitable boxing t5 .26 to allow the small landing' wheel 15 to be adjusted vertically in a manner to be hereinafter described. Arranged beneath the boxing' 26 is an invertedU-shaped meniber Q7 having an opening; to receive the 100 shaft 25, which projects through the memb-er 2i and has lined to the-lower end thereot in any suitable manner a fork-shaped member 28 between the parallel'limbs of which the wheel 15 is journal-led as at E29. 105

The sides of the inverted U-shaped member \2 are slotted to'. receive a transverse loclring bar 30 WhA i is secured .to thev member 2'? in any suitable lmannerand arranged directly above the periphery ofthe small landing/'when i5. *rhs pasan limbs or ai@ fork-shaped member 28 'are also slotted as 'at 3l to receive the locking bar for a purpose to behereinafter described. Consel" .uently when the shaft 26 is turned inelther direction,v the vertical-propeller is adjusted, and thewheel 15 simultaneously turned to guide the machine whenrnoving over the ground or surface.

ln accordance with the present invention l contemplate the provision oit' a foot actu- 'atedmeans for controlling the movements ot' the shaft 25 for the purpose just mentioned, and this means includes a transverse plate 32 arrangedv at the forward end of the inach'ine and plvoted at a point between its ends as at 33. Pedals or `t'oot engaging members 34 rise from the ends of 'this plate. so that the latter can be readily and conveniently shifted in either direction to control the adjustment of thevertical rudder.' These pedals are mounted for pivotal movement with relation to the plate 32. Carried by the squared portion of the stern Q3 is a cross bar 35,1trorn the opposed ends of which extend pivoted 'links 36 which are connected with the adjacent ends of wires or cables 37, the corresponding forward extremities of these elements being connected with the plate 32. Therefore when the plate is shifted in either direction upon its pivot 33, a pull is exerted upon one or the other wires or cables 37 to turn-the stein 23, which by reason of its association with the shaft 26 also turns the latter in the same direction. The'cables 37 are trained over and under suitable guide pulleys 37 which are arranged on spaced superimposed shafts 38 as clearly shown. The vertical ru`dder is turned by reason of its connection with the stem 23, while the small landing wheel l5 is turned with the shaft 26.

Journaled transversely of the machine is a 'shaft 38, and carried Iby the opposite ends @Eiwit this shaft are bell crank levers or the like', the corresponding;r branches .Z9/of which are connected to vertically disposed rods d() which are pivot'ally connected to the under side of the horizontal` rudder l?. Projecting forwardly from the vertical branches 41 of the bell crank levers or the like are links 4t2, and these links are connected with the adjacent ends of wires orI cables '-43 which are'selectively actuated to control the movements of the horizontal rudder. f It might he statedthat the vertical branch of one of the bell crank levers extends upwardly above the shaft, while thecorresponding branch of the other lever depends from the shaft. Arranged in advance of the. shaft 38 parallel therewith is a rock shaft 4d which has scoured to the ends thereofv revcrsely disposed arms 45, one of these arms projecting above the shaft and the others below the shaft. These arms are connected with vthe renonce corresponding forward extremities of the wire or ,cables 43, so that the shaft ist is rocked in one or the other directions depending upon the direction of movement desired to be imparted tothe horizontal rudder 17.

pass under spaced rollers 53 and 51lrjournaled in the base or support 55 upon which the drum is journaled. The cables are associated with vthe drums to be alternately wound about and iiuwound from suiddrum, so that the cables are singly utilized to shift or control the horizontal rudder 17'. The drum is actuated by a suitable lever 56 which has associated therewith a pivoted pawl 57` to cooperate with the teeth 58 provided on the support '55 for the drum, so that the drum may be held against rotation with the horizontal rudder in a given position.

As hereinbefore stated, the small landing),r wheel l5 is mounted for vertical adjustment, and for this purpose l provide'the shaft 26 with spaced danges 59 which in reality provides a rack 'for engagement by the teeth 60 of a .gear 6l journaled upon a suitable vshaft 62. 'Only a portion of the periphery of this gear is' toothed as illustrated, and this portion of the gear operates in a suitable opening or slot 63 formed in the boxing' 26, to allow the gear to mesh with the shaft QG. Radiating from the gear are arms 64, each of which is provided with a cross head 65. Connectedto the ends of each crorgs head are wires 66. Each pair of wires isA connected at a pointST with a wire (S8, there being obviously two of such control wires 68 which are singly used to effect a vertical adjustment ot the shaft :26 with the wheel l5. Each olz these control wires 68 has included in its length a strong coil sprinfT 69 for lapurpose to be hereinafter described, while the control wires 68 are trained over suitable pulleys 70 and 7l respectively which are carried on the same shaft 5l that supports the guide pulleys 49 and 50 for the other control wires for the horizontal rudder hereinabove mentioned. The control wires 68 for the gear 6l are then extended in the direction of the drum 72, being passed over suitable guide pulleys 73 arranged directly in advance of the drum, and also under rollers 7-11 and 75 journaled on the base or support 76 for. said drum. The wires 68 are associated with the drum to be altery... li)

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the parts, it ot course Lese nately wound about and unvvonnd therelronnse that only one Wire at a 'time is em ployed to operate'the gear 6l in the proper direction. Carried by the shaft ot the drum is a toothed wheel 77 above which the lever 78 operates, and this lever is provided with a movable pavfl i9 normally spaced from the teeth ot the wheel 77, but adepted to be moved into engagement therewith to turn the latter and said drum in either direction, depending upon the direction of movement of the lever 78. tlso pivotally mounted adjacent the drum is a lever S) which operates a sliding.;l bur 8l, the latter having pivoted thereon locking dogs et) and 833 respectively, arranged to singly engage the toothed .vheel 77, to hold the latter against retrograde moven'ient in either direction, atteithe lever '78 has been f unployed to adjust the gear 6l. ltleui'festly when the gear (3], is rotated in one direction 'the shalt 2d elevated to move the ground engaging wheel l5 closer to the machine, and when the rear (il. is turned in the other direction the shaft and ground engaging wheel are lowered or moved in a direction away from the machine.

As hereinabove pointed out,A the small ground engaging Wheel is adapted to be utilized as a brake, drag or skid for the nntchine when landing, and tor this purpose the periphery ofthe Wheel is toothed or notched' as at 81ttor use in conjunction with the locking bar 3Q hereinabove described. New, when the pilot is about to land his machine, he operaties the lever 78 to move the shaft 26 vertically, and when the inverted lll-shaped member 27 strikes against the bottom ot the boxing 26, a continued movement of the lever 78 in the seme directior moves the vvheel 15 together with its forked support 28 in thedirection of the mec'iine. The forked member moves npwardly Within the 'tl-shaped member, but against the tension of a spring 85 vwhich surrounds lthe shaft and interposed between the U-shaped member 2T and the forked supA port 28 for the wheel. Duringv` this movementot' the fork-shaped member, the Wheel is brought into engagement with the locking ber 30, the latter beingv received by one of' the notches 84, to hold the Wheel against rotation when the machine strikes lthe ground, thereby allowing this Wheel to be used in the capacity ot a brake. The springs 69 arranged in the length of the operating cables 68 allow this adjustment to take place Without placing the mechanism under undue strain, and preventing breakage of any ot i being' understood that the Wheel and shaft are all locked against vertical movenient by means ot one ot the looking!2 dogs and its association with the toothedwheel 77 above described. lVhen it is desired to release the wheel l5 vfor rota tion, it is only necessary to operate the lever 'from the locking bar ill),

S() to disengage the particular dogv employed from the toothed wheel Ti", vwhereupon wthe spring` 85 the lcvci` T8 in sliding the shaft 25 `lo'vn.\*ai'dly, to separate the Wheel llci'iendingr trom the machne is: a curved guard 86 which is suitably braced at n point between its ei'ids by means ot' a bra/fing element 8i" clearly illustrated in Figure l, end this guard is arranged directly in edvtrnce of the n'hccl l5 to protect the latter from catching on to anything, or brought into enga ement with stationary obiects that would po ibly injure the wheel. i

'lllhile it is believed that 'trom the toregoing description, the nature und adi/'anlages olf the invention will be readily appurent, l.' c 're to have it understood, that l do not limit n'iyselt to what is herein shown and described and that such chant-es may be resorted to when desired as hill withinf' the scope ot what claimed.

1'il/hat is claimed is:

l', ln. an aeroplane, a body portion, planes mounted thereon,4 propelling meennnisin, a vertical shalt-mounted tor rotatable -und vertical n'iovenient, a stein rotatable with the shaft and slidable vertically with relation thereto, n rudder carried by the stem and means lor shitting the rudder and shaft simultaneously, a ground engaging: wheel carried by said shaft, means for adjusting the shaft vertically independently of said rudder and holding' said shaft in a give 'vertical position, means disposed in the path ot vertical movement ot' the wheel and cooperating therewith to hold the wheel against rotation, whereby the latter serves as a brake or skid, e horizontal rudder, and means tor controlling the movements ot the latter.

2. In any aeroplane, a body portion, planes mounted thereon, propelling` mechanism, a vertical shaft mounted for rotatable and vertical movement, a stem rotatable with the shzrl'tand with reference to which seid shalt is movable vertically, a rudder car'ied by the stern, a ground engagii'm; wheel carried,

by the shaft, means for adjusting the shutt and Wheel vertically 4and holding the shaft in o given vertical position, a locking bar arranged transversely ot' the wheel and in the path of movement of the latter, cooperating means carried by the Wheel for inten locking engagement with said bar when the Wheel is moved to the limit ot its vertical adjustment, whereby the wheel is held against rotation to serve as a skid, a horizontal rudder, :1nd means for controlling the movements of the latter.

3. ln an aeroplane, a body portion, planes mounted thereon, propelling mechanisn'i, a vertical sin it mounted for rotatable and vertical movement. a stem rotatable with the shaft und with rel'ereuce to which the shaft is vertically nu" veille, u verticul rudder car- Tied ley the stem, foot controlled means for simultaneouslyy 'shifting the shaft and rad der, means for adjustinev the shaft vertically, a landing Wheel carrieda by the lower end ot the shaft and having notches in the eriphery thereof, a locking bar arran e above and transversely of said Wheel 'an ,adapted .to engage the latter upon the limit of its up- Ward' adjustment, to prevent rotation of the Wheel, whereby the latter serves as a skid,

neans for locking theshat in a given vertical position, an additional rudder projecting rearwardly of the Wheel and arranged' beneath the vertical rudder, a horizontal rudder, and means for controlling the Inovements of the latter.

' 4. in an aeroplane, a vertical shaft mount- `ed for rotatable and vertical movements, a

moose@ means for looking said gearin a given position.,'means disposed in the path of vertical movement. of said Wheel to engage and hold rthe latter against rotation, whereby said Wheel serves as a skid in an adjusted position, resilient means `interposed between 'the shaft and Wheel and against which the Wheel is locked in an adjusted position, a horizontal rudder, and y,means for controlling said rudder independently of the vertical rudder.

5. In an aeroplane, a vertical shaft mountm ed for both rotatable and sliding movement, a rudder operated bysaid shaft, engaging means on the shaft, a gear having a segmentaltoothed portion meshing with the engaging means for elevating the shaft, means for operating said gear, a landing Wheel carried by the lower end of the shaft, and means for automatically locking the Wheel against rotation when adjusted with the shaft to a predetermined position, and means for locking the shaft in its given position.

In testimony whereof ao: my signature.

FRANK MCELHANEY, 

